Her Career: TAKE THE TRAILS

LEAVE THE ROAD; TAKE THE TRAILS

BY SUE READY | PHOTOS BY JOEY HALVORSON

Local resident Julie Jo Larson is a writer, story catcher, public speaker and professionally trained social worker. She’s the assistant director of TRIO Student Support Services at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.

“I love my work with students who are first generation, low income or who have disabilities,” Larson said.

Living in rural Brainerd is the perfect setting for one of Larson’s hobbies — raising chickens. Her dog Kyra keeps a careful watch over the brood.

Julie Jo Larson holds her chicken, Maude, in the coop.

PHOTOS BY JOEY HALVORSON

“I have six chickens right now. Beaky is my rooster. Maude, Rose, Barack, Harriett and Oreo are egg laying hens. They are small chickens, not for eating. Their eggs are cute and very rich,” Larson explained.

When not writing, another of Larson’s hobbies is mining for amethyst in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Over the years she has made several trips there. It’s all part of her fascination with all the elements of nature, old abandoned buildings and cemeteries. She will tell you “it’s not a morbid fascination but historical in nature. It’s a way to learn volumes about people, places and events.” On Larson’s bucket list for summer is panning for gold in the Dakotas.

Two of Julie Jo Larson’s chickens, Oreo and Rose, enjoy a piece of watermelon in the yard.

PHOTOS BY JOEY HALVORSON

Larson’s adventurous spirit and inquisitiveness has led her to delve into the lake country’s rich history uncovering missing pieces and solving mysteries. With her like-minded women’s group called MsStorian which includes Yvonne Doust, Leigh Melby and Vicki Foss, they’ve made important grave site discoveries in an abandoned black cemetery in Wealthwood Township, near rural Aitkin. Larson considers it an honor for the Star Tribune paper to publish a recent article documenting MsStorian discoveries in the Black Cemetery. Over the years the MsStorian have traveled together in search of history, fun and flavorful beverages. In fact, their adventures are legendary as well as their stories, which have regularly appeared in regional magazines as “MsStorian Adventures.” Due to schedules, illnesses and COVID-19, the group currently has put their adventures on hold.

Barack and Harriet enjoy a summertime treat in Julie Jo Larson’s yard.

PHOTOS BY JOEY HALVORSON

Past events and people’s stories fuel Larson’s writing. She has found the Brainerd area to be a thriving literary community. A plethora of opportunities exist to support her writing which include: Blue Cottage Agency workshops, Candace Simar classes, Crossing Arts Alliance, Lakes Area Writer’s Alliance and Five Wings Arts Council. Four years ago Larson started giving presentations to service organizations, genealogy clubs and historical societies. Topics center on Crow Wing cemeteries and Brainerd lakes history.

Larson’s strong desire to travel and explore the world beyond was the impetus for her debut book, ‘’100 Things to Do in Minnesota Northwoods Before You Die,” published by Reedy Press. She feels “it’s an accumulation of 30-plus years wandering the region. From travels with my husband and children in the early 1990s to MsStorian adventures pre-COVID-19, I have unknowingly been gathering information for years.”

The book cover of Julie Jo Larson's book, "100 Things to do in Minnesota Northwoods Before You Die."

Larson took a leap of faith and went out of her comfort zone to write this travel book. And what an amazing feat this was accomplishing it all in the middle of a pandemic. Larson considers her book “a celebration of the Minnesota Northwoods. It can be considered a bucket list, a tour guide and even a cure for cabin fever for residents and visitors alike.”

Larson noted her book is unique since few travel books and travel bucket lists are being published right now, especially for the Northwoods, Duluth, Brainerd and Bemidji areas. She found publishing this book a gratifying experience with the support of family and her mother and mother-in-law who were mentors during the process.

The book became a yearlong project from start to finish in 2020. Larson, with her fellow MsStorian Vicki Foss, main photographer, donned masks, armed themselves with hand sanitizers and set out to lay the groundwork for the book. Completing all the needed information during a pandemic did pose some challenges. There were COVID closings, travel restrictions, and some places were not answering their phones. At times Larson had to rely on websites, pamphlets and tourism outlets to fill in the missing pieces.

Even though Julie Jo Larson is a busy author, she still has time for her chickens.

PHOTOS BY JOEY HALVORSON

The book is written in a conversational tone. The narrative uses concise words for readers to follow five clearly marked bolded sections: Food and Drink, Music and Entertainment, Sports and Recreation, Culture and History, Shopping and Fashion. It might surprise you to learn right in Pine River there is an alpaca farm and in a little known section of the Chippewa National Forest, there is an area for hiking called The Lost Forty. A mailing address, phone number and an email address for contact purposes is included for each destination. Interspersed throughout the book are helpful traveling tips, how to navigate a particular destination upon arrival, food and beverage recommendations and a few personal anecdotes. Carefully crafted suggested itineraries and indoor and outdoor activities divided by the season can be found at the back of the book. There’s no shortage of activities and sights to fill your itinerary no matter what the season. Truly there is something for everyone.

Julie Jo Larson’s book encourages wanderlust, and to explore the world beyond one’s backyard. So grab your copy of “100 Things to Do in Minnesota Before You Die” and get a move on. This is the land of 10,000 lakes and home of Paul Bunyan. Adventure awaits!

Sue Ready is a freelance writer, poet, food writer, book reviewer and former middle school teacher. She is the president of the Northwoods Arts Council in Hackensack and one of the chairs for the Annual August Northwoods Art and Book Festival. Sue blogs at http://sockfairies.blogspot.com with recipes, up north living and travel adventures. Her book reviews are posted on Facebook under EverReady Book Reviews and on her blog.